Toronto police have charged a man in connection to a shooting at a child’s birthday party in Rexdale on Saturday that sent three children to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries.
Posted Jun 22, 2021, 05:19AM EDT
Toronto police have charged a man in connection to a shooting at a child’s birthday party in Rexdale on Saturday that sent three children to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries.
Police say the accused, Demar Cadogan, was the lone adult injured in the incident.
Cadogan, who was shot in the leg, is now facing four gun charges, including discharge firearm with intent.
Earlier Monday, police said two of the children injured in the gunfire have been released from hospital while a five-year-old girl remains in critical condition.
Emergency crews were called to a home in Rexdale around 8 p.m. Saturday for a shooting at a birthday for a one-year-old boy.
According to police, the boy was grazed by a bullet while an 11-year-old boy was shot in the buttocks.
Cadogan is the first person arrested in the case, but police say there are multiple suspects.
The brazen shooting outraged local politicians.
Premier Doug Ford called the shooting “inconceivable and beyond comprehension,” adding the “perpetrators must be found and brought to justice.”
Mayor John Tory issued a statement Sunday morning saying firing a gun in Toronto is unacceptable “anywhere anytime,” but “doing so at a child’s birthday party goes way beyond that.”
Veteran police Superintendent Ron Taverner called it “one of the most disturbing scenes” he’s seen in his long career.
“It’s disgusting,” Taverner said Sunday. “As much as this is a horrific, horrific situation, it could have been worse. There could be three dead children.”
Emmalyn, who attended the party with her son, said the ramifications of the violence will be long-lasting.
“These kids are going to remember this. It’s summertime, these kids are supposed to be eating ice cream, playing games. I’m lost for words because I don’t know what to say.”
“To know that you were here, you seen the atmosphere and know that 80 per cent of the people that were here were children. Your heartless, your cold, bottom line.”
